Wilson County Sheriff backs deputies in altercation that left man unresponsive

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The Wilson County Sheriff backed deputies who were involved in a physical altercation with a man who became unresponsive and was hospitalized.

Police responded to reports about a man, identified as Jacob R. Nopens, who was knocking on doors, holding a baby without clothes and acting erratically on Rutledge Lane on Wednesday, Wilson County Sheriff Robert Bryan said.

Deputies responded and Nopens “appeared to be in a different state of mind,” Bryan said based on his information and video from the patrol vehicle.

Officers eventually were able to persuade Nopens to relinquish the child to a bystander, Bryan said.

But Nopens put up a struggle and was hard to subdue as he was handcuffed by officers.

Nopens apparently had a medical occurrence and appeared to stop breathing, Bryan said.

Nopens' condition was unknown as of Friday afternoon.

Bryan believes the video shows “these officers had a rough time trying to control this individual,” and he believes that deputies did not act out of line, he said.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been asked to investigate the case, TBI spokeswoman Susan Niland said. The investigation is ongoing, Niland said.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.